He's Bad, We're Worse -- We Watched This

COMMENTARY

Michael Jackson Story Set A New Low And Millions Got Right Down There With It.

February 8, 2003|By Hal Boedeker, Sentinel Television Critic

With apologies to Casablanca, the ramblings of a deluded pop idol don't amount to a hill of beans in this crazy world.

And yet, the documentary Living With Michael Jackson was steeped in irony. This 44-year-old man-child doesn't merit widespread obsession, but an estimated 43 million people watched all or part of the program Thursday night.

The fabulously wealthy performer is hopelessly out of touch in a world where people have to mature quickly every day.

Possibly the Thursday edition of ABC's 20/20 provided an interlude, a bit of escapism from bad news and the threat of war with Iraq. How else to explain its ratings punch?

ABC, which has lagged badly on Thursdays this season, actually won the night ahead of Friends-driven NBC and CSI-powered CBS. National ratings showed the two-hour 20/20 averaged 27.1 million viewers. (Interest in Jackson seems to be growing: His music special on CBS in November 2001 averaged 25.7 million.)

In contrast, Secretary of State Colin Powell and Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein were seen by 11.4 million Wednesday night on CBS' 60 Minutes II.

The line goes that you can't argue with success, but maybe you should. ABC's ratings were hardly something to celebrate.

So what if it was ABC's most-watched Thursday night, excluding sports, since 1991? And what if it was the highest-rated installment of any newsmagazine since Barbara Walters interviewed Monica Lewinsky on 20/20 in 1999?

The Disney-owned network presented a freak show -- smoothly produced, yes, but still a freak show.

British journalist Martin Bashir spent eight months on Living With Michael Jackson, which was produced by Granada Television. ABC reportedly spent between $4 million and $5 million for the U.S. broadcast rights.

Jackson complained Friday that the documentary was "tawdry'' and that he felt "betrayed'' by Bashir.

The program reinforced the impression that Jackson has an odd way of looking at the world -- not exactly news to us about the former child performer. The documentary lingered over his appearance, parenting and friendships with children.

He dismissed concerns about sharing his bedroom with other parents' children. "That's a beautiful thing,'' he said. "Who's the criminal? Who's Jack the Ripper in the room?''

He was shocked 10 years ago to be accused of sexually molesting a boy. But the singer reached a financial settlement with the family because he didn't want "a long, drawn-out thing on TV like O.J. and all that stupid stuff.''

He keeps his three children in masks and wants more kids. He's thinking of adopting two children from every continent. Of his drastically evolved appearance, he said he has had only two operations "that I can remember.''

The most telling moment came when Jackson watched dazzling footage of himself as a boy performing with his brothers in the Jackson Five. The scene explained why he first captured the public's fascination, why he retains a mythic status in the culture -- and how far he has fallen from those golden years.

Living With Michael Jackson represented another disturbing blend of news and entertainment on television. The themes were so dark, and Jackson was so pathetic, that the program couldn't be considered a diversion, even in this celebrity-addled society.

Although hardly vital news, the Jackson saga consumed more time on broadcasts and lowered the standard for newsworthiness. ABC studied the 20/20 clips on Primetime Thursday later and on Friday's Good Morning America.

Primetime also analyzed Jackson's changing face, a topic that Dateline NBC will devote an hour to Feb. 17. Good ratings mean a hot topic will result in duplication.

Living With Michael Jackson evidently gave many viewers what they want. But considering what's going on in the world, did this "rare television event'' give them what they need?